Hotels near Hitachi Seaside Park

Hitachi Seaside Park is a 350-hectare national government park on the Pacific coast of Ibaraki, famous for flower displays that cover an entire hill. In October the star is kochia, a round, bushy summer cypress that turns from green to deep crimson, and some 30,000 plants cover Miharashi Hill, usually peaking from early to mid-October.

Cosmos bloom alongside the kochia in drifts of pink, white and yellow, and the hilltop looks out over the ocean. The park is large enough to justify a rental bicycle or the seaside train, and it also has an amusement area with a Ferris wheel. Entry costs a few hundred yen (around €3), and the park usually opens from 09:30 to 17:00 in October.

Pro Tip: Arrive at opening on a weekday and walk straight to Miharashi Hill before the tour coaches. Check the park's bloom updates online first, as the red deepens after a few cool nights.